Skipping across Europe till July

I don’t care what the Confederate Flag Means to you

Let’s start with some quick history: The most common known Confederate flag is actually a battle flag of the South used during the civil war. I’ve heard too many people say the civil war was not about racism. They say the war was rather about the South’s succession due to Northern Aggression. The North infringing on the freedom of the South. Okay. But what freedoms were the Union infringing on? I think you know. Almost all related to the freedom of owning human beings as slaves. I’d say slavery is a text book definition of racism. Here’s a more descriptive list of triggering events.

So if a war started due to slavery does not show the Confederacy’s racism, let’s take a quote from the South’s Vice President to seal the deal:

“Our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea; its foundations are laid, its corner-stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. This, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth…” -Alexander H. Stephens

If you wish not to read the whole quote, here’s the important part: “the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man.”

The Vice President of the Confederacy informed the people its entire cornerstone rested upon the barbaric idea that white skin triumphs black. I feel offensive and stupid simply typing the words.

Maybe you don’t care that the Confederate flag represents racism because it represents something different to you. I am from Florida and grew up with many people flying the flag proudly. I love the South but don’t really get the point of waving a flag which represents a failed attempt at owning other humans. Yet, I know many see the flag as a representation of “Southern Pride” and are fortunate enough (aka white enough) not to associate it with segregation and racism.

Did you know the swastika was not created by Hilter? It was a symbol used for over 10,000 years with meanings ranging from universal welfare to eternal life to good fortune but always representing peace. After the Nazi use of the symbol, its original positive message of life has blackened to represent death. Now that the association has changed, people reject the use of the swastika. Would you ever think of tattooing a swastika on your body? In Germany, you would not even have the option with the swastika symbol being illegal to display. Why has America not made the symbol of the Confederate flag as synonymous with hatred as the swastika is?

My point is it does not matter what you think of the flag. It does not matter what I think of the flag. It matters that an entire race sees the flag as dehumanizing. It matters that this flag represents a people which tried to secure their rights over owning humans. The Confederate flag is a banner of hatred disguised as a banner of pride. You wouldn’t fly a flag with a swastika so why fly the Confederate symbol?